Boko Haram again!

•All security agencies and strategies should be employed to prevent invasion of Lagos by insurgents and fundamentalists

The reported plot by terrorist group, Boko Haram, to attack and cripple Lagos deserves the attention of military authorities and the Federal Government. Security chiefs who had monitored the parks in and around Lagos were said to have uncovered the plot last year and raised the alarm on the need to step up security around the economic and commercial capital of Nigeria.

There is no doubt that the state of emergency in three states in the North East, and the red alert around other Northern states has destabilised the high command of the terrorist group and raised a need to relocate to other states where the guards are lowered.

This has logically made Lagos a prime target. All the major banks have their prime branches in Lagos, the busiest ports, sea and air, are located in the city. It has the highest population density and is reputed to be the 13th largest economy in Africa. This recommends it to local and international terrorists seeking to make Nigeria ungovernable.

The report, founded on intelligence, suggests that the city would be invaded using vehicles painted in military colours, presumably allocated to very senior military officers. We, therefore, call on military, police and security chiefs to step up search of military vehicles. It is known that the police are conventionally disallowed from conducting search on military vehicles. It is also usual for all other agencies on the roads to merely give way to avoid the wrath of the military top brass.

We call on the armed forces to submit fully to the rule of law. Miscreants would always explore the fault lines with a view to exploiting it to the discomfiture of the state and the security forces. The reported plan to attack Lagos by using military vehicles must have resulted from such a study. It is therefore not enough to focus on the identified direction, but ensure that all laws, rules and regulations put in place to ensure peace and good order of the society are fully complied with by all.

The various arms of the armed forces should also take inventory of the hardware purchased for national defence and security and ensure that they do not fall into wrong hands. At a time when no one could say those working for the enemy, means must be devised by which those in custody of the hardware are kept in check.

In an era of general insecurity, the security-industrial complex has grown into a multi-billion Naira business. In the past two years, the security budget has been close to a trillion Naira annually. As is the case elsewhere in the world where so much money is available in a sector, a number of people profit from the current state of affairs and would do anything to extend this. The agent provocateurs must be kept in check as we take steps to arrest the unrest in the land and keep away the insurgents.

Lagos is the pride of Nigeria; the soul of commerce and business. If that platform is assailed, the edifice may crumble. While all efforts are made to defeat the terrorists in the region where they have gained ground, no excuse would be acceptable to allow a spread to other parts. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.